Flower beds at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden (Dallas, Texas).
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32.8231° N96.7173° WBortle 7Chicago

Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden Photography Guide

Botanical Garden in Dallas County, Texas

  • Bortle 7 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 242°–299°
  • Clearest: September
  • Milky Way Feb–Oct
Photo: Loadmaster (David R. Tribble) This image was made by Loadmaster (David R. Tribble). Email the author: David R. Tribble A · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source

Located in Dallas County, Texas, Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden is a botanical garden. It sits roughly 7.1 km (4.4 mi) E of Highland Park.

The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden is a 66-acre (27 ha) botanical garden located at 8525 Garland Road in East Dallas, Texas, on the southeastern shore of White Rock Lake.From the Wikipedia article “Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Nearest town
Highland Park
7.1 km (4.4 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 7
Suburban / urban transition
Clearest month
September
38% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
6.2 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
6:22 PM
sunset 6:55 PM

Light at Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden

Live
Sunrise
7:35 AM
Sunset
6:49 PM
Golden hour AM
7:20 AM – 8:09 AM
Golden hour PM
6:16 PM – 7:05 PM
Blue hour AM
7:10 AM – 7:20 AM
Blue hour PM
7:05 PM – 7:14 PM
Full darkness
8:12 PM – 6:14 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 70%
Moonrise / set
3:45 PM / 2:00 AM
Day length
11h 14m
Sunrise azimuth
102°
Sunset azimuth
258°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in America/Chicago. Golden hour = sun −4° to +6°; blue hour = −6° to −4°.

Clouds at sunrise & sunset

NWS

Hourly sky cover from the National Weather Service. 20–60% cloud often gives the most colorful sunrises and sunsets.

Sunrise & sunset directions

At Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 61° (ENE) at the June solstice and 118° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 299° (WNW) in June to 242° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 81° in summer but only 34° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
DateSunriseAzimuthSunsetAzimuthNoon sunDaylight
March equinox (Mar 20)7:31 AM90° E7:39 PM271° W57°12h 07m
June solstice (Jun 21)6:20 AM61° ENE8:39 PM299° WNW81°14h 19m
September equinox (Sep 22)7:16 AM89° E7:25 PM271° W57°12h 09m
December solstice (Dec 21)7:26 AM118° ESE5:25 PM242° WSW34°9h 59m

Azimuth is measured clockwise from true north (90° = east, 270° = west). Computed for 2026; values change by less than a degree from year to year.

Golden hour & blue hour by month

Gardens are best on bright overcast days or early mornings when dew is fresh and the wind is calm.

Month (15th)Blue hour startsSunriseGolden hour endsGolden hour startsSunsetBlue hour endsDaylight
January7:03 AM7:30 AM8:07 AM5:07 PM5:44 PM6:10 PM10h 13m
February6:46 AM7:11 AM7:45 AM5:39 PM6:13 PM6:38 PM11h 02m
March7:13 AM7:38 AM8:11 AM7:03 PM7:35 PM8:00 PM11h 57m
April6:32 AM6:58 AM7:31 AM7:24 PM7:57 PM8:22 PM12h 59m
May6:02 AM6:29 AM7:04 AM7:45 PM8:19 PM8:47 PM13h 51m
June5:51 AM6:19 AM6:55 AM8:01 PM8:37 PM9:06 PM14h 18m
July6:02 AM6:30 AM7:06 AM8:01 PM8:37 PM9:05 PM14h 07m
August6:25 AM6:51 AM7:25 AM7:40 PM8:13 PM8:40 PM13h 22m
September6:47 AM7:11 AM7:44 AM7:02 PM7:35 PM7:59 PM12h 23m
October7:07 AM7:32 AM8:05 AM6:22 PM6:55 PM7:20 PM11h 24m
November6:32 AM6:58 AM7:34 AM4:51 PM5:27 PM5:53 PM10h 29m
December6:56 AM7:23 AM8:00 AM4:45 PM5:23 PM5:50 PM10h 00m

Local time (America/Chicago), including daylight saving time. Golden hour runs from about −4° to +6° solar altitude, so the morning golden hour begins during blue hour, before sunrise.

Milky Way & night sky

From Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.2 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 28° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 7 (suburban / urban transition), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitudeDirection
JanuaryBelow 10° in darkness—1°—
February4:56 AM – 5:46 AM0.817°SE → SE
March4:07 AM – 6:07 AM2.025°SE → SSE
April2:03 AM – 5:23 AM3.328°SE → S
May12:04 AM – 4:44 AM4.728°SE → SSW
June10:19 PM – 4:29 AM6.228°SE → SW
July10:15 PM – 3:05 AM4.828°SSE → SW
August9:43 PM – 1:03 AM3.328°S → SW
September8:58 PM – 11:08 PM2.225°SSW → SW
October8:17 PM – 9:07 PM0.817°SW → SW
NovemberBelow 10° in darkness—3°—
DecemberBelow 10° in darkness—-18°—

Window when the galactic core is at least 10° high during astronomical darkness on the 15th of each month. Pick nights within a few days of the new moon. Plan exact nights with the Milky Way planner.

Estimated sky darkness: 7 Bortle 7 — Suburban / urban transition. The whole sky has a grey-white glow; the Milky Way is invisible to the eye. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 18.57 mag/arcsec².

Weather & best season

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 38% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (57%). August is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.

Average cloud cover (%)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F838389961011071121111091009082
Low °F151516314058656050302214
Precip. (in)2.83.43.83.54.43.92.32.43.14.42.53.1

Monthly climatology for the surrounding 1° grid cell from NASA POWER (MERRA-2). Mountain sites can be colder and cloudier than the cell average.

Photography tips for this botanical garden

  • Many gardens restrict tripods or charge for photography; check the rules before you go.
  • Backlit petals glow; position yourself so the sun is behind the flower.
  • Seasonal exhibits (orchids, tulips, cherry blossoms) draw crowds — arrive at opening.
  • Kaleidoscopic and abstract images are great for flower close-ups — try the online kaleidoscope tool.
  • Tell someone where you're going in remote areas and carry the ten essentials.

Season: Spring bulbs and blossoms, summer perennials and autumn color; glasshouses offer winter subjects.

Suggested gear: Macro lens, Diffuser, Small reflector. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.

Nearby photo spots

Other locations within 25 km of Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, closest first.

White Rock LakeLake
White Rock Lake1.3 km away · Dallas County · 140 m

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden?
September has the clearest skies on average; june is best for the milky way core. For light, plan around the first and last hour of sun. Spring bulbs and blossoms, summer perennials and autumn color; glasshouses offer winter subjects.
What time is golden hour at Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 6:22 PM and ends after sunset at about 6:55 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 8:05 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 61° in June to 118° in December; sunset ranges from 299° to 242°. See the sun-path diagram for the full arc.
Can you see the Milky Way from Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden?
Yes — the core is visible from February to October on moonless nights. The estimated sky quality is Bortle 7 (suburban / urban transition).
Do you need a permit to photograph at Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden?
Personal photography from public land rarely needs a permit. Commercial shoots, models, large groups and drones may require permission from the land manager — check before you go.
How far is Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden from Highland Park?
About 7.1 km (4.4 mi) in a straight line; driving distance is usually longer, especially in mountain terrain.

Sources

Location data: Wikidata, Wikipedia. Sun, moon and Milky Way times are computed by LWPhoto Atlas for 2026. Climate: NASA POWER. Sky darkness is a population-based estimate (Walker's law), not a measurement. See data sources & licenses.